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Abide with Me

In Western thought the rich ruler’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” might be thought of as an event, but the Greek indicates the concept of abiding.  Perhaps it would be better asked, “How must I abide to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus goes to the heart of what is separating this man from Him by getting him to address his love of material possessions.  Once he has done that, then Jesus tells him to “come, follow me,” a continuous action to abide with Him (Luke 18:18-23).  The song, “Abide with Me,” encourages us to take hold of the heavenly joys that could be ours:

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens: Lord with me abide!  When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

I.  Matthew 6:19-21.  The rich ruler chose earth over eternity.  Where our treasure is, there our heart is also.  So, is yours in heaven or on earth?  The rich ruler went away sad because he loved this world that is temporary and passing away (1 John 2:15-17).  The hymn continues:

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

II.  James 1:13-15.  The rich ruler chose sin over strength.  The tempter tempts us from the evil desires within us, yes, but we each are guilty when we give into that temptation and sin.  We choose our comfort in what pleases us rather than trusting in Jesus (John 14:1-6).  The song speaks of this too:

I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour: What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?  Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?  Thro’ cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

III.  2 Corinthians 4:7-10.  The rich ruler chose terror over triumph.  We’re bound to have struggles in this life, but only through Jesus can we have victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).  And only in an abiding relationship with Jesus can we truly know His love (John 17:14-23).  Let us not, choose to be condemned with the world instead:

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?  I triumph still, if Thou abide with me! 

For each of us, there may be something different that keeps us from abiding with Jesus.  Let us not be like the rich ruler who was sad because he was unwilling to give up temporary treasure for a heavenly reward.  As the song concludes:

Hold Thou thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

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Save Those Who are Eagerly Waiting

Why was it so essential that Jesus be seated at the right hand of the Father and that we know that He is coming back?  What is the work of the King of Kings that He does on our behalf as He entered His kingdom?

I.  Colossians 1:9-20.  Jesus is on a rescue mission.  He had to enter His kingdom to deliver us from the dominion of darkness and transfer us to His kingdom.  He accomplishes this through the church (Matthew 16:18), which is His body, which He bought with His blood (Acts 20:28), over which He is head (Ephesians 1:7-23).  We are rescued when we obey the gospel (Acts 2:36-41).

II.  Hebrews 7:23-25.  We need Jesus to intercede for us.  Jesus’ constant work on behalf of those who have obeyed the gospel until the Day of Judgment is to sit at the right hand of the Father as our permanent High Priest and offer intercession for us (Hebrews 9:11-15).  And, it is good that He does as the accuser of our brethren is constantly about his deceitful work (Revelation 12:1-17).

III.  Hebrews 9:23-28.  Because we know that Jesus will return for us (Acts 1:9-11), we must be eagerly waiting for Him.  The time for His redemptive work is done, His sacrifice for sins on the cross and overcoming of death at the tomb accomplished.  He has gone away to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-4), so we must live faithfully, watching and preparing (Matthew 25:1-13).

Jesus has gone away to do His important work of saving us.  Are we about our important work of eagerly waiting for His return?

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Have You Counted the Cost?

In the story of Dr. Faustus, a man exchanges his soul to the devil for all that the world has to offer, but eventually payment comes due!  How many believe themselves walking on the narrow path that leads to eternal life but because they have compromised with the world, find their feet on the broad road that leads to destruction?

I.  Matthew 7:13-14.  The first verse of the hymn, “Have You Counted the Cost?” challenges us to examine our walk with Christ:

There’s a line that is drawn by rejecting our Lord, Where the call of His Spirit is lost,

And you hurry along with the pleasure mad throng, Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

Our whole duty is to fear and obey God (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13).  Why?  Judgment is coming.  We will be judged by every word of the Word (John 12:48).  His Word is a living standard by which we must give an account (Hebrews 4:11-13).  Even if we’ve obeyed the gospel and on that narrow road, we must make every effort to obey (Mark 8:34) and not be compromised with the world (1 John 2:3-6).  Do you cross His line?

II. Matthew 6:19-21.  The second verse challenges us to examine where we are storing our treasure:

You may barter your hope of eternity’s morn, For a moment of joy at the most,

For the glitter of sin and the things it will win, Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

We are either storing up treasure for this temporary life or for eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).  Some justify disobedience because the trials of life are difficult, but we must persevere instead (1 Peter 1:3-7).  Sin does attract us (Mark 8:35), and Satan knows exactly which lure to use for each of us.  Obedience or disobedience in this temporary life has eternal consequences (Revelation 21:22-27).  Do you barter your hope?

III.  Matthew 4:5-7.  The third verse asks us if we test God when we’re put to the test:

While the door of His mercy is open to you, E’er the depth of His love you exhaust,

Won’t you come and be healed, won’t you whisper, I yield, Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

Time is the gift that God gives us to repent (2 Peter 3:9).  Unlike Jesus who recognized that His time of testing was not an excuse to test God, we often give in when struggles are hard.  God’s patience, kindness, and mercy are intended to return us to Him (Romans 2:3-8).  Our giving in is denying Him (Mark 8:38).  Rather we should submit our lives to Jesus (James 4:7-10) and live through the gospel.  Is the door open to you?

The chilling chorus compels us each to answer to questions:

Have you counted the cost, if your soul should be lost, Tho’ you gain the whole world for your own?

Even now it may be that the line you have crossed, Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

 

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We Will Not Live Only Once

O God eternal, it is not true, you know,
That we only live once.
We shall live again.
We will be raised from the dead.
We will appear before your judgment throne.
We will enter eternity.
We will suffer horribly or enjoy every rich blessing from your hand.
And our choices here and now will determine our destiny.
O God of all goodness, help me choose this day to love and serve you.
Strengthen my heart to be a person of integrity.
Put steel in my will, that I might do your will.
Clear my mind of all distractions, in order to learn from Jesus
And follow him in all things.
I want to go to heaven.
Make this not to be a mere wish, but a reality.
Because Jesus is mine, and I am his.

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What Will it Profit a Man …?

Matthew 16:26 (ESV)
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

In a great illustration that I saw recently, a preacher had a rope stretched around the perimeter of an auditorium.  Holding up a short end wrapped in red tape, he explained that the rope represented eternity and the tape was our brief life on earth.  Then, asking this very question from Scripture, he lamented how we work so much to benefit the first inch while ignoring preparation for the rest of the rope.

Sadly, we are a society that thrives on immediate gratification.  Gone are our grandmothers’ days of pinching pennies to buy something big.  An item purchased at a rental store may cost three times its value by the time it’s paid in full, but the customer has it right away while TV and the internet bombard us with products we “can’t do without” at such a fast pace that they’re often obsolete before we buy them.

So, what about the rest of the rope?  Several versions of the Faust story from the 1500s on tell the tragedy of a man who sells his soul to the devil for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures.  The day of reckoning comes, however, for Faust to pay for his extravagances as the devil arrives to collect what was bargained for.  For a very short time, he had gained the whole world at the cost of his soul.

Most of us do not go to the extremes of Faust.  No, we sell out at a much lower price.  We compromise obedience to the gospel and a true walk with God for a state of quasi-Christianity.  We give if it doesn’t inconvenience us, believe a mixture of information we’ve picked up in church and on social media, and tell of Jesus only if it doesn’t make us too uncomfortable.  True study, prayer, and service to strengthen our relationship with God is secondary to checking our watches to get on to our “real” lives.

If a command seems too strict, we call it outdated; if love and forgiveness, mercy and grace are too hard to offer, we justify a reason not to extend them.  Only half-gaining the whole world, we still forfeit our souls.  A deal with the devil has been struck—we’re just haggling on the price.

Instead of being so nearsighted, God would have us look beyond the temporary tape on the end.  James describes our existence as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Rather, should we not prepare for the rope that stretches into eternity?

This article will also appear in the January/February 2019 issue of Christ For Today, David Tarbet editor.

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Let Jesus Be

Let Jesus be my light and joy,
Yes, this, O God, is what I want —
Surrender wild and worried mind,
Messiah’s peace and power rule.

Let Jesus be my greater work,
O Father, in me be glorified —
That I and all eternally share
Your life among the worshiping saints.

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Roller coaster world

What a roller coaster this world is, O Lord! People are led by their passions and emotions, swayed by their peers, motivated by the approval of those who have no influence on their eternal destiny. Keep me from entering this heart-rending ride.

How small is the life lived far from you, O Lord! Nothing beyond the visible, idols on every side, routines with no redeeming qualities. Keep me near your presence.

How short a human’s time on earth, O Lord! We are born to trouble, we age quickly, our bodies wear out rapidly. Keep me now that I might enter your eternal kingdom.

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Fluent in speaking to you

Heavenly Father, prayer is such a privilege! To come before your holy and magnificent presence is an honor that has no equal. Stretch my language abilities, that I might be fluent in speaking to you. Often I feel the limits of language. When I do, I thank the Spirit for carrying my inexpressible thoughts to your throne.

Bring me often to your glory, that I might spill out before you my hurts and heart-felt questions, offer my gratitude for hope and blessings, ask your help for strength and courage.

Make eternity turn upon my prayers, that it might rescue many who stand upon its brink. Give us our daily bread and our eternal sustenance.

Open our eyes to power in your word and work. Sweep us along in your will, for we desire to go in your direction, behind the cloud of your movement.

 

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The Humble Son to Lead

You, O Lord, created me,
A living soul,
A breathing spirit, full and free,
Complete and whole.

You gave me life, and I was filled
With joy and love;
You blessed, your presence spilled
From heaven above.

We ruined the best, your presence spurned,
Our minds rebelled,
To you, O God, our backs were turned,
Our hope expelled.

The Lord refused to leave us be,
He had a plan—
A rescue from eternity
To save his man.

Continue reading “The Humble Son to Lead”

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Time as Friend

Lord, let us see our time on earth as our friend,
With every thought and action geared to the end,
To learn, prepare, and grow in full desire,
For your most glorious presence in pure attire.

Lord, let us know that life is made of hours,
And moments, being present, with mental powers
In focus on our eternal purpose — earth
And heaven anew, with saints of spiritual birth.

Lord, let us find in Christ the only way
To you and all your hosts — for this we pray
And work and wait, as age and wisdom grow —
In hope, we think this passing time is slow.